Patrick Maisto, 49, the parent arrested and charged with assault following the benches-clearing brawl during the baseball game between Red Bank Regional and Rumson-Fair Haven last Saturday intends to plead not guilty to the charge, according to his attorney, Mitchell J. Ansell of Ansell, Grimm, and Aaron in Ocean.

“We intend to plead not guilty,” Ansell said. “My client did not commit any crimes that day. We have several witnesses that will be providing statements to support this.

“We are confident that when all of the evidence is presented that my client will be exonerated.”

Little Silver Police placed Maisto under arrest on Saturday, April 27, for allegedly entering the field of play at Red Bank Regional High School during a brawl between the two teams. Maisto was later charged with assault.

The brawl began when a Red Bank Regional player ran into the catcher’s shoulder during a busted suicide squeeze play, a slide considered illegal under New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) rules which calls for an automatic ejection.

The Rumson-Fair Haven catcher retaliated against the runner and the Red Bank player that was at-bat reacted as well, spurring the players on the benches from both teams to enter the field of play and engage in a heated scuffle that lasted several minutes.

After a separate altercation occurred near the pitcher’s mound between two opposing players, Red Bank Athletic Director Louis ‘Del’ Dal Pra had Maisto by the elbow calling for another Red Bank Regional official to call the police, claiming Maisto had struck a player.

The police arrived, placed Maisto under arrest and charged him with assault.